Recent severe weather in Sweden, particularly in Västernorrland, has exposed vulnerabilities in the country's infrastructure. Experts Joakim Paasikivi and Patrik Oksanen highlight the need for increased resources and investment to address these challenges, emphasizing that infrastructure is a critical vulnerability in both natural disasters and potential attacks.
Paasikivi on Weather Chaos: 'We Need More of Everything'
Paasikivi on Weather Chaos: 'We Need More of Everything'
Sweden's resources are heavily utilized, and recovery during crises takes a long time, according to experts Joakim Paasikivi and Patrik Oksanen.
The recent weeks of severe weather, especially in Västernorrland, have had devastating consequences.
At the same time, the aftermath has revealed a deeper vulnerability: the infrastructure cannot withstand the strain, according to military expert Joakim Paasikivi.
– We have quite limited preparedness for this type of event. We've seen this several times, for example, with the collapse on the E6 highway. The recovery takes relatively long, he says.
One of the fundamental problems, according to Paasikivi, is that resources are heavily utilized.
– Everything is in use all the time. I imagine this is a major concern for those planning in civil defense.
Need for Investments
The investments that need to be made will partly be covered by the increased defense spending that comes with NATO membership, Paasikivi believes.
He emphasizes that the biggest challenge does not lie in an armed conflict.
– At the highest level of preparedness, society's resources are reprioritized. The problem is rather the strains in peacetime: weather, wind, and natural disasters.
The conclusion is simple but costly:
– We need more of everything.
Potential Target
Patrik Oksanen, a security debater affiliated with the think tank Frivärld, argues that weak infrastructure is a potential target in an attack on Sweden.
– We have long stretches in our country that we will need to transport things along. The infrastructure then becomes a critical vulnerability, he says.
Oksanen highlights Ukraine as an example of how quick restoration of railways and roads has forced Russia to prioritize other targets.
– It is precisely the ability to repair that determines how strong you are.
He underscores that Sweden and NATO have already identified transport corridors that need strengthening. The Malmbanan to Narvik is one example.
– It is single-tracked and vulnerable. It requires both reinforcements and a completely different readiness for repairs. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how strong the network is fundamentally.
Patrik Oksanen argues that the recent natural disasters also show the fragility of the infrastructure.
– We will see more extreme weather events with climate change. It serves as a reminder of our vulnerability, both from nature's forces and from an antagonistic perspective.